They are huge – it’s how they get 7 seats in them.

They are quite repulsive, unnecessary and don’t put a particularly favourable light on the people who drive them. I find it amusing that they are mostly made by German car makers, yet Germans hardly buy them compared with the fools in this country. The Germans seem to favour large estates, I guess they are more tasteful that Brits…

That was a 5 series estate…

Why not go the whole hog and get a white Range Rover….

The XC90 is very popular over here, (as you’d expect), and certainly seems to be dwarfed by the Q7 or X5 when parked side by side.

I’d expect the two German cars to offer slightly better MPG, however that’ll be off-set against a higher initial price.

Quality wise they are in the same ballpark, so I guess its whatever interior your wife like the best.

If you are feeling flush though, how about a really nice van? VW Caravelle or Vito or something? Far more practical I reckon.

Oh and there’s now a 7 seater Prius, so I can recommend it in even more situations 🙂

Land Rover Discovery.

Biased because I work there, but I do love them.

My MIL is the managing director of quite a successful company so I guess there is always one that bucks the trend eh!? 🙄

Rather depends on where you live though. My MPV has been destroyed by a continual need to get up verges to avoid farm vehicles / satnav obsessed HGVs, and when they release the pheasants it’s guaranteed carnage. I’ve been pondering a similar question, though more S Max v XC90 than the others mentioned.

How about the Touareg?

Disco 4 HSE. 7 full size seats. Not kiddy seats in the back.

I have a Q7, just did home to Morzine with 4 bikes on the tow bar.
It was extremely quiet, very easy and it performed flawlessly. Had it for about 6months. Before that I had a 5 series estate. The Q7 is about same length, is wider and does fit in spaces less (easily? or just less…)

It is a ridiculous car, it is a crazy size. But it works and fits what I need it for. It does not get used around town. Fuel consumption – have seen it show an average of 40+mpg for a journey, but that is very much the exception. Did average something like 34mpg with bikes through france @ 82mph. Long term is currently 31mpg (I am not very patient).

Haven’t used the 7 seats much. But would not consider buying the Q5 (that seems too compromised in my mind).

Was ironic in the winter – take a 4wd to work in the snow (on pirelli Pzero) or 2wd with winter tyres. I did both and the 2wd was almost certainly safer.

Apparently you can’t get anybody who wants the 4.2tdi (a friend of a friend was looking to get do a trade-in and nobody would bid for the car).

Makes you wonder how everyone else copes with 3 children.
If you want a large car, that’s fine, but having 3 children is a rather weak reason.

If I had the money to burn, I’d burn it.

Then I’d live a much more modest life.

Only in the home counties! Is that Nicolai just the job for the trundle along the tow path too?

Transporter 4 motion, drive like a car and high up seating position

You’re poor aren’t you and have clearly NEVER driven any of these cars. For a start, the G wagon is an ancient design that doesn’t handle, isn’t very comfy and a G55 would bankrupt you at the pumps. They’re like a German version of a Defender and I’m pretty sure thats not what the OP is after here.

I’ve got a Q7 and its brilliant at some things, not so good at others and truly rubbish for a few things.

They are massive inside, however because of the seven seats its not that easy to get more than one bike in the back. The load bed isn’t very deep because the seats fold flat so if you want to carry bikes, a tow bar rack is a must. They EAT tyres like they’re going out of fashion. The 21’s on mine are 295’s and they cost a small fortune to replace – I’m lucky to see 10k out of a set. If you buy one, get the 20 inch wheels, replacement tyres are much cheaper. Also heavy on brakes which again are expensive. Fuel wise I see between 27 and 30mpg, although I’ve got a bit of a heavy foot. Set the cruise on 70/75 and you’ll see 32 easy enough.

Comfort wise they’re brilliant. You can happily drive for 3 or 4 hours and arrive feeling fine. I did the same trip in the Cayman and the RS4 I had before this and you’d get out feeling like you’d been run over. Long distance motorway work its their forté and bar the thirst for fuel they’re nigh on perfect. I’ve stuck 35k on mine since December and its been pretty faultless, bar the electric tailgate pakcing up this weekend, which is apparently a common fault.

If you do a lot of town driving I’d not bother though. I live in Kingston and its a nightmare to park and just generally drive about. I’m pretty careful and so far haven’t hit anything but there’s been a few close calls, just because its so wide. To the point where the A3 near Hook junction is a very scary experience.

Its also lost a massive amount of money. I paid 28k for mine in December. Having looked at trading it in, I’ve had a few places offer me as low as 13k, none above 15k. That’s a massive amount of depreciation and worth considering if you change your car often.

I don’t think I’d have another if I’m honest, they’re too big and not that good at carrying bikes. I don’t have kids so I’ve no real use for 7 seats either. Next car will either be a nice van, or something quick with a roof rack. If I was to have another SUV, I’d look at a Disco 4 but make sure I’ve got a good warranty on it. Or get a post 07 Cayenne for not much money and run it into the ground.

This is mine on the day I picked it up

And to give an idea of size – thats a mid wheelbase high roof T5 behind it